Shriya releases brand new EP

At just 18 years old, Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Shriya is already making a significant impact in the Indian R&B scene. Fusing modern R&B with elements of pop and soul, her music is brimming with rich harmonies, emotive storytelling and profoundly personal lyricism, a formula that’s established her as a rising star with a sound that’s enjoyed across India and beyond.

First making her entrance in 2021 with her debut single “Dreaming,” she’s shared several impressive singles over the years since while winning over fans across India and beyond and even earning high praise from Rolling Stone India. Now she brings us her latest release with her brand new four-track debut EP titled In a Box.

Penned from when she was sixteen, the release chronicles her teenage years via an intimate reflection on mental health, personal struggles and the realities of growing up. Shriya uses her music as a space for self-expression and healing, offering a relatable experience for listeners handling heartbreak, self-doubt and personal transformation. “Music is the one thing that keeps me going,” she shares. “It’s always there when I need it.” Through this project, Shriya creates a sonic refuge where listeners can find solace, connection and empowerment.

Leading the EP is “Her,” an emotionally-charged ballad that captures the heartbreak of betrayal framed by classical piano and cinematic instrumentation above which Shriya’s elegant vocals and haunting melodies transport listeners into the depths of her pain. Bringing the song to life are producers Yohan Marshall, Pedro Peixoto and Fili Filizzola, who have previously worked with global icons like Doja Cat, SZA and Harry Styles. Crafting a mesmeric pop-focused sound, “Her” delivers a dazzling listening experience packed full of soaring vocal performance and delicate instrumentation, allowing the weight of the song’s moving context to truly hit home and be felt by listeners.

“I’m Not Alright” follows as a candid and vulnerable exploration of the mental health challenges Shriya faced in her teenage years. With moving lyrics and heartfelt instrumentation, the song speaks to anyone who has ever struggled with anxiety, loneliness or self-doubt wrapped up in a graceful, piano-led soundscape cut with stunning R&B-tinged vocals.

She continues this theme with “Are You Down,” a track that highlights the role music played in her survival during difficult times. Carried by mellow groove and stitched with playful vocal style, it’s a stellar alternative R&B jam that’s catchy and meaningful in equal measure. Closing the EP is “Dream About It,” a song born from a period of uncertainty when Shriya questioned whether she could truly pursue music as a career. Yet, rather than being a lament, the track is a triumphant declaration of perseverance, sentiments reflected in dreamy aesthetic of atmospheric instrumental textures and drifting vocal leads, crafting an intricate and soothing finale to her sensational debut EP.

Listen to In a Box below